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State seizes Trattoria on Pearl in Boulder for $16,000 in unpaid taxes

By Alicia Wallace, Camera Business Writer

Posted:
05/12/2014 12:39:01 PM MDT

Updated:
05/17/2014 04:13:12 PM MDT

CLARIFICATION: This story originally included a 2005 photo of Daniel Cofrades working at the restaurant. The caption should have noted that Colfrades left the restaurant in 2008.

The Colorado Department of Revenue has seized Trattoria on Pearl for unpaid sales taxes, according to signs posted on the downtown Boulder restaurant by state tax agents.

Casarrubias Inc., which does business as Trattoria on Pearl, owes $16,164 in sales taxes, according to documents posted at 1430 Pearl St. on Friday.

Last week's seizure of the restaurant came two days after Trattoria on Pearl officials sent a two-sentence e-mail to customers.

"With a heavy heart and distinctly mixed emotions, I must report that effective immediately, the restaurant is closed permanently," Trattoria on Pearl officials said in the e-mail. "Thank you all for your support over the years."

Officials for the restaurant could not be reached for comment.

The notices taped on the windows of Trattoria on Pearl indicated the restaurant had eight months of unpaid taxes since August 2013.

State officials plan to conduct an auction of Trattoria on Pearl's property and fixtures to satisfy the debt. An auction date was to-be-determined, according to the posted notices.

By statute, the Colorado Department of Revenue has to wait a minimum of 10 days to set an auction to allow the proprietor to pay the tax owed, said Daria Serna, a spokeswoman for the Colorado Department of Revenue.

Taxpayers can pay off the taxes owed up until the auction date, she said.

"They would also have to pay any expenses that have accrued up to the point, i.e. locksmith bill, advertising, auctioneer expenses, etc.," Serna said in an e-mail to the Daily Camera.

Trattoria on Pearl officials have been in contact with state officials, Serna said.

Guillermo Casarrubias has owned and operated Trattoria on Pearl since 2005.

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